Reeling device switch



March 16, E WEST R ETVAL REELING DEVICE SWITCH 2 Sheets$heet 1 Filed March 14, 1945 March 16, 1948. E. J. \IIIVESTER ET AL 2,438,082

REELING DEVICE SWITCH Filed March 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN 0R5 ZML IL (Iii s 7' Patented Mar. 16, 1948 REELING DEVICE SWITCH Edwin J. Wester. Rochester, and Eugene R. Ziegler, Spencerport, N. Y., assignors to Ritter Company, Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation A of Delaware Application March 14, 1945, Serial No. 582,620

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to reeling devices and, more particularly, to the variety thereof comprising a reel operated by a spring or other tensioning means for rewinding a flexible element, such, for example, as the cords by which the hand instruments of a dental or medical equipment stand are connected with sources of electrical or other operating media within the stand, one object of the invention being to provide a more simple, self-contained and practical device of the character described.

Another object is to provide an improved device of the above character in which the rotation of the reel serves to automatically control the supply of an electrical or other operating medium through the flexible element or cord.

Another object is the provision of an improved construction of the nature indicated in which the rotation of the reel operates means for releasably holding it against rotation so as to temporarily relieve the cord and an instrument carried thereby of the strain of the reel tensioning means.

Another object is to provide a more automatic and efiicient device in which the rotation of the reel operates means to conjointly control the supply of an operating medium through the cord and releasably latch the reel to relieve the cord of rewinding tension.

A further object is to provide such a reeling device in which rewinding tension on the extensible cord of an instrument and the electrical circuit for energizing it may both be controlled by simple manipulations of the instrument with a minimum of effort and attention on the part of the operator.

Still a further object is to provide a reeling device having the above advantages in a simple and practical form f construction capable of being readily manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a reeling device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line 2--2 in Fig. l, partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section and partly broken away, showing the application of the invention to a dental equipment stand;

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the electrical circuit, and

Fig. 5 is a similar diagram showing the parts in a difierent position.

The invention is herein disclosed, by way of illustration, as applied to the reeling of the flexible cords by means of which the hand instruments of a dental equipment stand are supplied with electrical energy from sources within the housing of the stand. The upper portion of such a stand is shown at H) (Fig. 3), comprising an instrument holder I I, formed with sockets for a plurality of hand instruments, such as the water syringe l2, cautery l3, examination lamp [4 and air syringe l5, which are connected by flexible conductors, slidably threaded through the sockets, with sources of operating media located in the stand, as well understood in the art. The instruments are shown with some of them partially extended, for better illustration.

The holder H is preferably supported on ways iii in the stand housing for sliding movement therein toward and from an opening ll in the front wall thereof, so as to present the instruments for convenient access in use by the operator and for withdrawing the same into the stand when not in use. A cover 18 is slidably supported in ways [9 on the stand for movement to cover and uncover openings ii, the cover and holder being synchronously operated to uncover and advance the holder and vice versa, by means indicated in part at 20, which form no part of the present invention but are described and claimed in the co-pending application of Edward J. Ries and Norman E. Lauterbach, Serial No. 582,722, filed March 14, 1945. The instrument cords, as 2|, extend into the stand, around idler pulleys mounted therein, as 22, and thence to the reeling mechanism embodying the present invention, which will now be described.

The reeling mechanism preferably comprises a metal support or bracket having a base 23, with upstanding bracket arms, 24 to 27, inclusive, on which are rotatably supported the several reels for the above described instrument cords. The two inner reels, 23 and 29, for the cautery and lamp, respectively, have the same construction, except for being right and left hand, so that a description of one will suflice for both.

Reel 28 is formed by circular disk side walls, and 3!, preferably of electrically insulating, fiber or plastic material, being mounted on a hollow metallic hub 32, Fig. 2. Disk 3| is attached by screws, or other suitable means (not shown), to an end flange 33 on the hub, the other a end of which is reduced in diameter, as at 35, to receive the disk 30, which is secured thereon by a threaded ring 35. Fixed on the outer side face of disk til, as by means of screws 36, is an annular conducting metal disk 3i, of greater inner diameter than the hub portion 3 4, so as to be spaced'and insulated therefrom and having an insulating Washer 38 interposed between it and the ring so that disk 37 is fully insulated from the conducting hub portion of the reel and its.

supporting bracket. This reel carries the flexible conductor cord as of the examination lamp M, which contains two conducting wires it, forming part of the circuit of the lamp. lhe end of one of these wires is attached in conducting relation to the reel hub 32, by means of a screw it, while the other wire is attached in conducting relation to the disk 3?, by means of screw 36, for a purpose to be further described hereafter.

Means are provided for rotating the reel to rewind the conductor thereon comprising, preferably, a spiral spring 42 having one end fixed at '43 to th reel hub 32 and the other end fixed at M to a collar 45 fixed on the shaft '36 which extends through, and supports both reels 28 and 29.

-It will be evident from this arrangement that as the lamp is grasped by the operator and moved toward the point of examination, its cord 38 is extended, thereby rotating reel 23 and tensioning its spring 42, the spring being preferably under some initial tension, so as to fully rewind the cord'upon being released. Shaft 46 is supported at its ends in bearing openings in bracket arms 25 and 26, one of the openings having an entrance slot il (Fig. 2), to enable the reels 2% and 29 to be dismounted as a unit.

The ring 3?, to which one of the conducting wires of cord as is attached, is in continuous electrical contact with the end of a brush arm 48 (Fig. 2). Arm leis extended laterally at its bottom and provided with hinge ears d9, pivotally supported on pins cc and El mounted in'a bar "55 with one terminal 5-6 of a snap'switch 5'5, of

any known and suitable construction, such, for

example, as the commercially available switch known as a Switchette or microswitch, which are small commercial switch units requiring a -'-small amount of movement to cause operation thereof. This switch is mounted on an extension of bracket arm 25, with its other terminal 53 connected with the voltage source. The spring actuated switch has an operating plunger portion' 59, which is projected outwardly in the open position of the switch and which, when depressed against its spring, moves the switch to closed position, and means are provided for automatically closing the switch upon rotation of the reel by extension of its instrument cord L-Ei, as will now be described.

The switch operating portion 59 is arranged in the path of a projecting portion Be on a cam ti fixed to an arm 62, pivoted at E3 on bracket arm :25. Arm 62 carries a pin 66, to which are fixed the ends of a pair of oppositely extending springs 65 and 56, having their other ends fixed to portions-of bracket arm 25 and'so arranged as to normally maintainarm '62 in the position shownin Fig. 2, with the projecting portion of cam 6i spaced from the operating portion 59 of switch El, with the switch in open position. The other end of arm {32 is provided with a follower pin 8?, positioned for cooperation with cam means on the outer face of side wall disk 3B of reel 28, for conjointly operating the-switch to control the instrument circuit and releasably latching the reel to relieve the cord from its rewinding tension.

The cam means of the reel comprises a series ofguideways preferably provided by depressed and projecting portions formed in the outer face of the reel disk 3t, as best shown in Fig. 2. These guideways comprise a pair of inner and outer, substantially concentric and continuous guideways, 68 and formed by a peripheral ridge 10 and by aseries of raised concentric cam portions ii and i2, spaced inwardly therefrom. These inner and outer guideways are connected by intermediate guideways for moving the follower 61 from one to the other thereof duringthe rotation of the reel.

One of such intermediate guideways is formed by a raised or projecting portion '33, having'an edge l5 of generally spiral shape with its outer pointpositioned, on rotation of the .reel in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2) to engage the outer side of follower ti and move it into the inner guideway t8, as shown at it, in the circuit :diagram of Fig. Such movement of the follower rotates cam (it, so that its projecting portion 69 raises the operating portion 59 of switch 51 and closes the switch to energize'the circuit through the lamp l t, the parts remaining in such relation during the unreeling of cord 39 and the clockwise rotation of the reel. When the-0011139 has been sufficiently extended to dispose the instrument in convenient position for use and then slightly released, spring iZ then rotates the reel in the opposite or counterclockwise direction (Fig. 2) ,with the result that follower 81 drops into the adjacent one of a series of intermediate guideways l5 of particular shape and function.

Each of the guideways Whats a step portion i? against which the follower '6'! is urged by its spring 66, during the counterclockwise rotation of the reel, so as to inte'rlatch thes parts, the reel being held stationary and the switch 51 remaining closed, as shown in'Fig. 5. This is the position of the parts during use of the correspondinghand instrument, which is simultaneously kept supplied with electrical energy and relieved of rewinding tension on its cord, so as to'avoid interference thereby with free and unrestricted use of the instrument. It will be seen that so'long as the reel is turned in a clockwise direction (Fig.

2) by the unreeling of its cord, follower'fil remains in the inner guideway iifi and the cord may be pulled out to any desired, extent within'its length, and in any such position, a' slight release of the pull on the cord allows the reel to reverse its direction of rotation, with the result that *it is quickly latched in position-for using the instrument with the switch still closed.

After th use of the instrument is completed, a slight outward pull on the cord starts rotation of the reel in a clockwise direction '(FigQ'Z) with the result that follower 6?, under the pull of its spring 65, drops off the end of'the cam step 1'! and into the outer guideway" 89, opening the switch and releasing the reel for rotation by its spring in a counterclockwise direction to-rewind the cord and restore the hand instrument to its socket in the holder H. Theparts are preferably so -proportioned--that the instrument is seated in its socket in the holder and the reel comes to rest with the outer end of the intermediate spiral guideway 74 adjacent the outer position of the follower 61, as shown in Fig. 2, ready for operation as described above. It will be noted that springs 65 and 66 are adapted to normally retain the follower in the outer guideway 69 and just within the path of the outer end of the intermediate spiral guideway 74, in position to be engaged and moved by the guideway when the reel is rotated in a clockwise direction. When the follower is in this normal outer position, rotation of the reel in a counterclockwise direction leaves the follower in the outer guideway 69.

The outer reels iii and F9 are provided for the cords supplying air and current to the air syrin e l and water and current to the water syringe l2, respectively. As these two reels are the same in construction and are fully described and claimed in the copending application of Eugene R. Ziegler, Serial No. 582,651, filed March 14, 1945, now Patent Number 2,401,809, a brief description of one will be sufiicient for both. Reel 18 comprises side disks, l9 and 85, supported on a, hub substantially as described in connection with reel 28, the rewinding spring for this reel, however, being contained in a cylindrical housing 8! fixed on a shaft not shown but mounted stationarily in a socket 82 on bracket arm 24. One end of the spring (not shown) is fixed to the housing at and the other to the hub 83 of the reel. The cord 85 contains pairs of conducting wires or, one of which in each pair is electrically connected to ground through the hub of the reel, while the other is electrically connected to an insulating ring 35a similar in construction and arrangement to the ring El of the reel 28. A spring actuated brush 85 is journalled on pins 8i, mounted in a bar 88 of insulating material on the bracket 2 generally as in the case of brush 36 of reel 28, one of the pins 821 being connected to one side of the power line by a conductor as, while the reel hub and bracket 23 are connected to the other side of the line or ground by a conductor so.

Socket 352 is bored to form a passageway connected at its inner end (not shown) with a passageway extending through the shaft and the hub of the reel, which latter is provided with a nipple to which the cord 8% is connected. A pipe 9| is connected to the entrance of the passageway in socket 82 and supplies compressed air to the cord for operating the syringe it, as well understood in the art.

The operation of the above parts and their electrical circuits is further illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 4 and 5, where the reel 28 is shown in the position occupied when its instrument is in inactive position in its socket in the holder H. The hub of the reel is connected to ground through the wire 92, while one terminal of switch 51 is connected to a source of suitable voltage in the stand by means of a wire &3, and the other terminal is connected to the brush arm 48, the follower 67 being shown in the outer guideway 69. Reel 29 (Figs. 4 and 5) shows the position of the same parts when the instrument cord is pulled to rotate the reel in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in Fig, 4, the follower being then moved to the position indicated at T5 in the inner guideway 68a and the switch 51a being closed. Fig. 5 shows the position of the parts when the tension on the cord is relaxed, the follower 61a having moved into one of the intermediate step guideways 16a to latch the reel in position with the switch closed for using the instrument. After such use, a slight outward pull on the cord releases the follower from the guideway 16a, for movement into the outer guideway 69a, to open the switch and release the reel for the rewinding of the cord. The hubs of the outer reels l8 and 79 are shown connected to the ground wire 92 by conductors, 94 and 95, respectively, while their brushes, and 91, are connected to conductors, 98 and 99, respectively, leading to suitable sources of volt age in the stand.

The operation of the device has been described above in connection with its construction and it is evident that the invention provides a self-contained and compact reeling device, requiring a minimum of room within the limited space left available within such equipment stands by the various other mechanisms usually housed there in. The invention also provides a construction which is automatic and reliable in action, requiring a minimum of attention and n1anipulation by the operator. The construction is practical in character and adapted to be readily manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects, and while it has been herein disclosed by reference to the details of a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, as it is contemplated that various modifications and the construction and arrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a reeling device, a flexible electrical conductor, a rotary reel adapted to hold a plurality of coils of said conductor for variable extension thereof to different points of use, spring means for rotating said reel to reel and retract said conductor when not in use, said reel'being continuously rotatable in opposite directions for said variable extension and retraction of said conductor relative to various points of use, a switch in circuit with said conductor, cam means mounted on said reel in fixed position relative thereto, a movably mounted follower arranged to be engaged and moved by said cam means, said cam means having a portion adapted to be engaged and held by said follower for releasably holding said cam means and reel in predetermined position against the action of said spring means, and means actuated by the movements of said follower for opening and closing said switch.

2. In a reeling device, a support, a flexible electrical conductor, a reel rotatably mounted on said support and adapted to hold a plurality of coils of said conductor for variable extension thereof to diiTerent points of use, spring means for rotating said reel to reel up and retract said conductor when not in use, said reel being continuously rotatable in opposite directions for said variable eXtension and retraction of said conductor relative to various points of use, cam means operated by said reel, switch contacts mounted for relative movement toward and from each other on said support, a circuit including said conductor and switch contacts, and means for operating said switch contacts comprising a follower cooperating with said cam means for operating said switch contacts and for releasably holding said reel stationary with a predetermined length of said conductor unreeled therefrom.

3. In a reeling device, an electrical conductor,

,a-ssepsa :a rotary reelradapted tohold?a:pluralityrof-coils of said conductor for variable. extension thereof reel in fixed position relative thereto,amovably mounted follower for cocperation'with said. cam means, a spring for moving said follower-in one direction, said followerbeing arranged tobe engaged and moved by said cam means against the action of said sping and said cam means having a portion adapted to :be engaged and releasably held by said follower for releasably holding said cam means and reel in predetermined po sitions against theaction of said spring means, and means actuated by the movements of said follower for opening and closing said switch.

4. In a reeling device, an electrical conductor, a-rotary reel adapted to hold a plurality of coils of said conductor for variable extension thereof to different points of use, said reel having a side wall formed of insulating material, spring means for rotating said reel to reel and retract said conductor when not inuse, said reel being continuously rotatable in opposite directions fo-r said variable extension and retraction of said conductor relative to various points of use, a. switch in circuit with said conductor, and control mechanism comprising a series of cam guideways formed in said reel wall, and a cooperating fol-- lower forholding and releasing said reel, with various lengths of said conductor unreeled, and for opening and closing said switch as said reel is rotated in opposite directions.

5. In a reeling device, a flexible electrical conductor, arotary reel adapted to hold. a plurality of coils of said conductor for variable extension thereof to different points of use, spring means for rotating saidreel to reel and retract said conductor when not in use, said reel being continuously rotatable in opposite directions for said variable extension and retraction of said. conductor relative to various points of use, aswitch in circuit with said conductor, cam means actuated by said reel and comprising inner and outer continuous guideways and intermediate guideways connecting said continuous guideways, and follower means connected with said switch and cooperating withone of said intermediate guideways to close said switch and with another of said intermediate guideways tohold said reel stationary.

6. In a reeling device, a rotary reel, a flexible electrical conductor, spring means io-r rotating said reel to reel said conductor thereon, a switch in circuit with said conductor, cam means actuated rby'said reel and comprising inner and outer substantially concentric guideways and intermediate guicleways progressively connecting said concentric guideways, andspring actuated follower means connected with said snitch, one

of said intermediate guideways being arranged in circuit withsaid conducton-cam means actu- 75' ways connecting said continuous guideways,.and

spring actuated follower means cooperating with said cam guideways and connected with :said

switch, one of said intermediate guideways -having a substantially I spiral shape for moving said follower to one of said continuous-guideways and close said switch when said reel is rotated in one direction and the other of said intermediate guidewa-ys having a stepped shape for interlatching engagement with said follower "means when said reel is rotated in the'other clirection andfor releasing said follower means'for returnto-the other of said guideways to. open said switch when said reel is rotated in the.firstmentioneddirection.

,8. In a reeling device, a rotary reel, a flexible electrical conductor, spring means for rotating said reeltoreel said conductor thereon, a switch incircuit with said conductor, cam means actuated by said reeland comprising inner and outer continuous guideways and intermediate connecting guideways, a pivoted arm connected with said switch, spring means tending to swing said arm in-one direction, and a follower on said arm cooperating with one of said intermediate guideways to move said arm-against-said spring into one of saidcontinuous guidewaysforclosing said switch and cooperatingwith theother .of said intermediate 'guideways for interlatching engagement with said arm-whensaid reel isrotated inone direction and forreleasing-said arm forreturn to the other of said continuous guideways to open-said switch when said reel is rotated in the otherdirection.

9. In a reelingdevice, a rotary reel, a flexible conductor, spring means for rotatingsaid reel to reel said conductor thereon, a switch in circuit withsaid conductor, cam means formedon one side face of said reel and comprising-a plurality of guideways, a spring actuated :arm connected with said switch and having a follower cooperating with said guideways, one of said guideways being shaped to move said follower to close, said switch when said reel isrotated-inone direction and another ofsaid guideways being shaped for interlatching engagement with said follower to hold said reel stationary andisaid switch closed when said reel is rotated in the opposite direction and to release said follower to open said switch when-said reel is rotated in the first mentioned direction.

10. In a reeling device, a rotary reel-having a grounded portion and an insulated conducting ring,a pair-of insulated flexible electrical conductors wound on said reel and one connected to said grounded portion and the other .to said: ring,

spring means for-rotating said reel to reelsaid conductors thereon, a switch, an insulated brush contacting with said ring and electrically'connected with said-switch, -cam.,means formed ;on a side face of said reel and comprising a plurality of; guide'ways, a pivoted arm providedgwith, means for actuating said switch and having a follower cooperating with said guideways, and spring means for moving said arm in one direction, ,one of said guidewavs being shaped to move said follower agaimt said spring means to closasaid switch when said reel is rotated inone direction and another of said guideways being shapedfor interlatching engagement with said follower to hold said reel stationary with said switch closed when said reel is rotatedi-n the other direction and for-releasingsaid followenand openingssaid switch when said reel is rotated in the first mentioned direction.

11. In a reeling device, a conducting support, a rotary reel on said support having a conducting hub grounded thereon and a side wall of insulating material, a conducting ring insulated on said wall, a pair of conductors wound on said reel with one electrically connected to said hub and the other to said ring, spring means for rotating said reel to reel said conductors thereon, a switch, an insulated brush contacting said ring and electrically connected to said switch, a plurality of cam guideways formed in said reel wall, a spring actuated pivoted arm provided with means for actuating said switch and with a follower cooperating with said guideways, one of said guideways being shaped to move said follower against said spring means to close said switch when said reel is rotated in one direction and another of said guideways being shaped for interlatching engagement with said follower to hold said reel stationary with said switch closed when said reel is rotated in the other direction and for releasing said follower and opening said switch when said reel is rotated in the first mentioned direction.

EDWIN J. VJESTER. EUGENE R. ZIEGLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 459,705 Greenfield Sept. 15, 1891 668,798 Jones et a1 Feb, 26, 1901 692,427 Clay et al. Feb. 4, 1902 1,147,949 Keen July 27, 1915 20 1,659,293 Hermann Feb. 14, 1928 

